Reminders that God is in Charge

2 Reminders that God is way bigger then me: 1) Today I didn't want to go into work... I didn't have a good attitude about the possibility of it. Then my boss called, and to be honest, I didn't return the call for about a half hour. God slapped me across the face when Lauren told me that Tanya's (one of our coworkers) son was in a bad car accident last night and flipped his car into Shades Creek. (Blake is okay, but shaken up.) As soon as I heard that my heart ached for that sweet mama and her son. I went into work for about 4 hours this afternoon.

{God is bigger than me because He makes us

right our attitudes even when we don't want to.}

2) My best friend Liz is amazing... but we don't talk very often. Tonight at about 7:45 she was on my mind something fierce. I nearly called her, but Liz works at a church and I figured she would still be at work, so I didn't pick up the phone. Liz called me a few hours later and I told her about this... she told me that she wished I had called... because she was crying her eyes out at 7:45 tonight. She then shared with me what she was upset about and we talked for a while about what things are going on in our lives.

{God is bigger than me because He connects

us to our friends in ways that we cannot explain.}

Please pray for Blake, Tanya, and their family as they process his accident. Pray that they will dwell more on the blessings of what did not happen, rather than the thoughts of what could have happened.

Please pray for Liz that God will show her His way for her. That He will help her to make important decisions about her future, and that He will show her to rest in Him...

Les Amo,

Kacey

Kacey Lately...

My Life as of late:

Philly for NASPA:

I recently took a trip to Philidelphia, PA for a work conference. Here are a few images from the city:

A cross in Christ Church Cemetary where Benjamin Franklin is buried. I tossed a penny onto his grave for good luck.

Independance Hall, currently the tower is being redone so it is under construction

Liberty Bell (not as exciting as "National Treasure")

A Special/Sacred place for our country. This is the room in which our Declaration of Independance was signed. That large chair at the front table, is THE chair George Washington sat in on that special day...

Pretty architecture in Independance Hall

As I walked through all those beautifully historic places I had a moment where I wanted to call Daddy or Pawpaw. I always called them from special places. I'll never forget talking to Daddy as I put my feet in the Pacific Ocean for the first time, or the conversation I had with Pawpaw Cole as I stood inside the World War II Memorial in DC. Those were special conversations shared with men who appreciated those things that I enjoyed.


Beautiful Weather:
Birmingham is a great place to be any time of year, especially when the weather is as wonderful as it has been this week. However, despite its beauty... the only place I have wanted to be on these beautiful clear blue days is in the swing on the Gallery.

Hello and Goodbye:
Hello: My cousin Kristen came to visit and we have a nice time... great to spend a few days with her.
Goodbye: My friend Ashley just got a job this week and starts on Monday. She's moving to Charlotte, NC from Birmingham... keep her in your prayers over the next few days.

A Grief Observed:
I just read the entirety of CS Lewis' "A Grief Observed." I had heard the book quoted several times recently and since I don't believe in coincidence I actually bought a copy. It is not very long at all, but it is his personal journal from after his wife's death from cancer. I will go more in depth to the book tomorrow probably... but it is amazing and comforting to see that one of the most intellegent authors in History felt the exact same way I did when dealing with loss. More to come later on this point...

Things on my heart:
- My friend (since childhood) Allison's grandfather passed away earlier this week. She delivered his eulogy at his funeral today. I admire her so much for doing that, because I just don't think I could have. Please keep the Nobles family in your prayers.

- My sweet friend Sarah is having a baby this summer. She is one of the friends I get together with in Oxford every Spring and I am so excited to see her and her husband Kyle before the baby comes... in 36 days when we are in Oxford! During her pregnancy Sarah has been dealing with a lot of comfort and emotional issues as she writes about in her blog, Adventures of Baby Kirby (http://babykirbyadventure.blogspot.com/). Please pray for Sarah as she goes through the rest of her pregnancy and the birth of her baby boy...

- A new Opportunity for me... My desire to be at home with my family is growing and I am looking for a job opportunity to get me there. Please pray that God will open doors for that to happen, feel like this is His plan for me... I'm just looking for the way to get there.

- Mom's horse situation... it appears that she may not be able to show Happy in more, so she has been looking at other horses. This will be a major investment for her, but it is also something that will continue to allow her to be active in the show curcuit with her friends... Pray that God would guide her to make the best business decision on a horse.

Love Y'all!
KC

my 28th year...

Since I'm about 2 hours away from beginning my 28th year here on this earth... I decided that I should spend some time reflecting on the 27th, and thinking about hopes for 28.

How to sum up a year in a paragraph... I'm not so sure? 27 had its peaks and valleys, but I also had a lot of moments in which I verbally surrendered to God's plan, if He would show it to me. Moments where I pleaded with Him to simply show me where to go and what to do... because I am willing to go. As odd as it may sound, I truly feel like God is leading me to go back home for a little while. I don't know how long... but I am now looking for employment at home, and I believe that if this is His confirmed plan for me that He will open the necessary doors. Despite all my experiences of this past year, I feel like the growth I have experienced is best summed up in a section of lyrics from this blog's namesake, "Kacey's Song" written by my dad.

{There's so many things that I'd like to do,

but most of all Jesus I want to please you.

So here's my life, take it.

Do with it what You will.}

So 28... I have a lot of hopes for 28. I hope that God will continue to make His plan for me evident. I hope that God will continue to give me opportunities to grow and learn in and from Him and Life. I hope that this year will be one of no sorrow. I hope that this year will be one of health and happiness... of no cancer. I hope that this year will be one in which no matter how far I move away from my friends we will remain just that, friends. I hope that this year I will be able to help someone through their sadness as so many have helped me through mine.

{I hope that 28 is not about me at all...

I want it to be about serving God and serving others. }

I hope that in year 28 I become more like this woman:

10Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

22She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
31Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

I hope to become more resourceful, wiser, and kind. I hope to honor my God and my parents in my interactions with others (I will always be their child, therefore Exodus 20:12 still stands). I hope to become more independent of others, but more dependent on God.

I hope to travel. I hope to move. I hope to meet new people who will become very important to me. I hope to spend more time with Anna Cat, Wyatt, Cassidy, Will, and Savannah. I hope to see my best friend Liz more than twice in an entire year. I hope to stick better to my commitments of praying for others. I hope spend more time in study and reflection. I hope to show God to others in my daily walk... because if I can't do that, what's the point in the rest of it all? I hope to encourage more, to love more, and to serve more.

I hope for my 28th year... and right now, that's enough for me.

" Guide me in your truth and teach me,

for you are God my Savior,

and my hope is in you all day long."

Psalm 25:5

I love y'all,
Kacey